Linux Newbie Question

[btooze]

My Media PC comprises of two NTFS Drives.
A 500GB with Windows XP and Squeezecentre and a 1 TB containing my music files.

I am considering ditching XP and running the PC under Linux and I would like to know the following.

a) What distro of Linux would be the easiest to configure for a complete beginner.

b) What would I need to do to get the Squeezebox automatic updates.

c) Is there any issue with Linux and NTFS drives.

d) Is there a any further information (Wiki) that will help me configure my system.

Thanks,

Brian

[kesey]

a) Ubuntu. Other linux distro users will have their own ideas.

b) see d

c) no. see: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mo...irdPartyNTFS3G

d) http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Debian_Package

[maggior]

You will find everybody has their favorite flavor of Linux. I personally perfer Open SuSE. Why? It's what I'm used to. I could get by with Ubuntu if I had to.

If you know anybody personally that is a Linux user or enthusiest, you might want to start with the distrobution that they prefer. This way, you can get help easily.

Otherwise, Ubuntu is pretty popular and is a good choice.

[snarlydwarf]

You will find everybody has their favorite flavor of Linux. I personally perfer Open SuSE. Why? It's what I'm used to. I could get by with Ubuntu if I had to.

Personally, I use Debian, but Ubuntu is probably easier and better supported for a new user. It's what my mother in law uses.

You can grab a bootable CD from Ubuntu.com and try it without even installing it. (Though forgive it for being painfully slow that way... CD drives are slower than hard drives... a lot slower. But it will show you how well it detects your hardware and the ease of the gui... Did I mention it is slow running from a CD?)

Once you're installed you can turn off the monitor and unplug the keyboard and hide it in a closet. The command line isn't all that scary to use just for maintaining it.

[mudlark]

I would also vote for ubuntu although I use kubuntu. If you want to use kubuntu I would suggest using 8.04 as the latest desktop is quite different to others.

Kubuntu is easy to use and can be tried using a live cd.

I use a dual boot machine with a large disc with ntfs file system and this can be accessed by windows and kubuntu on my network.

If you are using linux it will take you time to get up to speed so you might try setting t5he thing up with livecd until you are happy with what you are doing. If you shutdown your livecd machine you will lose all the settings.

[pfarrell]

btooze wrote:
> a) What distro of Linux would be the easiest to configure for a
> complete beginner.

Whatever distro your buddy uses. so you can ask questions and buy
him/her a beer


> b) What would I need to do to get the Squeezebox automatic updates.

I assume you mean SqueezeCenter automatic updates. It varies by which
distro you pick, but on most, it all automatic.


> c) Is there any issue with Linux and NTFS drives.

Not in the past few years. In olden days, yet.


> d) Is there a any further information (Wiki) that will help me
> configure my system.

Sure, the wiki covers most of the popular ones.



--
Pat Farrell
http://www.pfarrell.com/

[agillis]

VortexBox, it's a distro based on Fedora Linux 10 so there nothing "Weird" or non standard about it. It automatically installs SqueezeCenter. VortexBox will automatically rip CDs to the hard disk.

This quick install guide will get you running in about 20 minutes.

http://vortexbox.org/documentation/v...install-guide/

[btooze]

Thank you for all your advice. I am now running Squeezecenter under Ubuntu.

I did have a few issues with graphic drivers and I did not appreciate that I had to run Squeezecenter under Firefox (I was trying to find the .exe file as in Windows) but all in all the process was fairly painless.

However, in order to run Squeezecenter I have to:

Open up Firefox.
Select Localhost 9000 from the Firefox dropdown.
Mount the second HDD that contains my Music files.

Can someone explain how I can “automate” this start-up so that I can switch on the pc and walk away.

[4mula1]

Personally, I use Debian, but Ubuntu is probably easier and better supported for a new user. It's what my mother in law uses.

"It's what my mother in law uses" must mean it's easy which keeps her from calling!

[Wombat]

Can someone explain how I can “automate” this start-up so that I can switch on the pc and walk away.

I had to edit fstab and add my NTFS drive.

kesey already pointed to an explanation https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mo...irdPartyNTFS3G